ALMOST £400k has been awarded to a sailing club to revive a former police barracks.

Historic England has awarded the Hornet Services Sailing Club a grant of £399,983 to help fund essential repairs to the former Police Barracks in the Haslar Gunboat Yard, Gosport.

Built in 1861, the barracks is a grade two listed building and is one of the two guardhouses to the former Haslar Gunboat Yard.

There is currently scaffolding around the building and a temporary roof to protect from wind and rain whilst allowing timbers and internal walls to dry-out.

Now though, with this funding, external works will be able to take place to make the building watertight, safe-guarding it from deteriorating further and allowing the owners time to develop plans for its reuse.

Club Commodore, Rear Admiral Richard Stokes CBE, said the barracks are a “unique feature in the history and heritage of this important site”.

“Hornet Services Sailing Club is proud to be involved in the conservation of the Police Barracks and we are extremely grateful to Historic England for placing their trust in the Club.”

The funding is set to cover 80 per cent of the cost of the repairs and is the latest in a string of funding for Gosport from Historic England totalling over £1million.

Duncan Wilson, Historic England Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted that this building, which has lain unused for so many years, is set to have a second lease of life.

“By investing in Gosport via the Heritage Action Zone and working closely with partners, we are using the rich historic environment as an anchor to support the town’s regeneration.”